PEACE OUT HORN

CITY OF SOUND

Living in a city like CHENNAI, how do you think it feels?

Well I know it is a great feeling just to be a part of this awesome city, Chennai is always giving to us isn’t it? Money…job… love… name it, you will get it here. But has any 1 thought about what it has taken in return from us? 

I have been thinking about this lately.

When was the last time you spent quality time in a silent and calm place? Could you actually find such a place in Chennai? Unless, it is a triple door, sound proof room. 

How long has it been since you heard a humming bird sing? Or woken up to the vocals of a cuckoo bird? Or tapped to the rhythm of a woodpecker pecking on a tree?

We find a place for everything in this city but for “silence”? I wish I could spot out such a rare place.

NO HORN

In spite of all the studies and surveys , why there isn’t a reduction in noise pollution, is it because of indifferent attitude of the citizens? We are ignorant about the adverse effects of noise pollution.

I’m a person who personally doesn’t like loud sound unless it’s my favorite music. I love driving and all my free time is spent only strolling around the streets on my bike, most of the times I return back home with a bad mood due to the constant honking. There are so many times I felt like giving the guy who just wouldn’t stop honking, a piece of my mind and other times I have become so irritated that I couldn’t drive further. I understand, when someone honks when there is enough place for the vehicle to move and make way for them , what I don’t understand is how will the vehicle move any further if there is no place. As if the road is going to expand magically just because someone keeps honking constantly!! 

There is one particular incident I would like to share. One day I was driving back home from my college during  peak hours, all the vehicles were moving in small paces but the guy behind me in a car ( SUV ) was continuously honking though he very well knew there is no space for him to get past me as there were vehicles jam packed in front of me. I turned around and shouted “STOP HORNING” but still he continued horning,  this raised my temper somehow I tried to make a way so that he could move in front and stop horning but even that dint stop him from honking. The red signal was up but his honking continued this got me really mad the guy got on my nerves so I thought of doing the same thing to him once the green signal was up I started honking continuously without a pause and put him in the same position where I stood this actually helped the guy stopped horning I felt relieved and happy but that dint last long it became worse it was like everyone started honking at the same time. It was just untolerable. 

Honking dint help me solve a problem it just made it worst leaving me with a migraine so STOP HORNING and say NO to horn.       

REASONS AND SEASONS

According to an article in THE HINDU METRO PLUS Noisy traffic (honking in particular), called impact noise, can affect hearing, said Dr. Mohan Kameswaran, Managing Director, Madras ENT Research Foundation. It is a cumulative effect and over a few years could result in substantial damage. We must observe one day in a year as a ‘No Horn' day to create public awareness of how noise can damage hearing. Md. Shakheel Akhter, IPS, Additional Commissioner, Traffic, also pointed out the culture of honking is unique to India. He also mentioned “Always remember that the person in front is as much in need of continuing his journey as you are; so, be patient.”

I started up with this article not because I can’t hear the birds singing we all very well know none of us care about a humming birds song but what we should care about is our personal heath.

A survey by THE TIMES OF INDIA conducted in 2011 said Living in Chennai is equivalent to living in a factory -- at least in terms of how much noise all the residents are subjected to. Data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that the noise levels everywhere in Chennai are over 100 dB -- more than a typical factory. The average noise level in Chennai is actually higher at more than 129 decibels. It must be noted that pain in the ear begins at 125 decibels. The permissible limit is 85 dB fixed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
This survey was based on monitoring many places link OMR, Perumbur, anna nagar etc, and Triplicane and T Nagar in Chennai city - commercial-residential neighbourhoods - registered noise levels above 130. Data from January to April 23, 2011 shows that Guindy registered a maximum of 141.8 decibels more than the sound from a gun blast.

All these data’s are from monitoring the sounds on normal days then just think of the festive seasons like Diwali, New Year, Christmas etc.

STOP AND FIX

Try starting early to beat the rush-hour traffic. 

Taking deep breaths help you to oxygenate your blood and release tension while on road.

Prefer mild music while driving other then ROCK and POP it will help reduce your stress. 

Make sure you had a good night sleep before you head out for a long drive.

Follow traffic rules.

Learn to cultivate patience.

Stop HORNING!

EFFECTS AND DEFECTS

The first and foremost effect of noise is a decrease the efficiency in working. Research has proved the fact that human efficiency increases with noise reduction.

Deafness, temporary or permanent, is one of the most prevalent effects of noise pollution.

Fatigue is another effect of noise. Due to lack of concentration, people need to devote more time to complete their task, which leads to tiredness and fatigue.

Noise pollution also acts as a stress invigorator, increasing the stress levels among people.

It also indirectly affects the vegetation. Plants require cool & peaceful environment to grow. Noise pollution causes poor quality of crops.

Sometimes people can be victims of certain diseases like blood pressure, mental illness, etc when they are surrounded by loud sound.

Loud noise also weakens the edifice of buildings, bridges and monuments. It creates crakes, which can be very dangerous and harmful and make the building collapse in some time.

Noise pollution is not as something you think it is it is actually more and more dangerous then you imagined. Loud sound could cause death. Don’t take this simple start thinking stop “HONKING”.

                                                                                     

- Chennai ponnu.

CHENNAI PONNU’S CHINNA ELECTION

Politics-Political parties-Ministers-Elections-campaign-voting

 What do the future generation of India thing about all these?

Well if you had asked me what my opinion was about the above an year back I would have said,” huh? Sorry I don’t know much, It is all Greek and Latin to me I dint know ABC of politics by then. I am guessing that is the most likely answer one would receive from the present youth. But my thoughts changed the day i applied for my voter ID. Honestly I wasn’t interested then, to even get an voters Id but my dad’s  persistence triggered my curiosity, Hence I started to educate myself on politics. This got me thinking on what my fellow folks (THE YOUTH) think of “Politics”? I prepared an questionnaire which I managed to post through all possible medium Eg : Facebook,Whatsapp etc. The responses I received were intriguing.

MY SURVEY

WILL YOU VOTE THIS ELECTION? IF “NO” WHY?

I least expected this question to give me a shock but it did indeed. About 55% of them answered  “NO” and the reason for all most 50% of the youths to say “NO” was because they don’t have voter ID,  5% was not in town to vote and another 5% fell under the  “MAY BE” category. Sadly only 40% of the youths are actually ready/interested to vote. Not to mention that the “40%”also has a possibility of dropping now on the actual day of Voting.

WHO WILL YOU VOTE THIS ELECTION?

Of the prospective 40% only 25% of the youth were clear on who to cast their  vote for, 10% were confused and the rest were clueless.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT NOTA?

This came as another shocker because 95% of people were unaware of  NOTA and only 5% were aware of NOTA! The ignorance is quite surprising.

For the people who do not know what NOTA is.

NOTA (None of The Above) this option is for people who are not willing to vote for any one. This option was introduced to make the entire eligible population to vote even if they are not supporting any of the contesting parties.

  

ON WHAT BASIS YOU CHOOSE WHO TO VOTE?

This question had various answers but the answers amazed me. Few said on the basis of the promises made, few said on the basis of their power, few said on the basis of their education qualification, but the majority of the youths said “HONESTY “they select their leader on the basis of HONESTY. Though it is a highly debatable quality to expect from an politician, I’m happy to know that the youth are expecting this quality from their leader J

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL WIN THIS LOK SABA ELECTION?

About 70% had an clear cut answer to it, to be more blunt the answer was Modi. Other 20% were not sure since 2 state level majority parties ( ADMK and DMK ) has not yet taken sides. The rest of the 10% had no idea.

DOES INDIA NEED A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT?

Finally I received an almost unanimous answer of 99%  agreeing that we do need a change of government!  Seems like People are done with congress ruling us for almost a decade and they want to see a change to take place but will the change be for the good? Now that’s a totally different ball game, probably that’s the reason why the 1% exist who do not want the change to take place dreading something worse.

WHAT DEVELOPMENT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT?

This question had quite a few answers where every individual had multiple expectations like raise in economy, reduction in price, safety of women and the most importantly to witness a “Corruption free Country”! It is evident that the expectations are very high. People expect the new government to full fill most/all of their expectations, but will the future leaders live up to our expectations? Let’s wait and watch.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT AAP?

 Well this question was quite a tricky question because we all very well aware that AAP has a strong youth support but is that enough given the negatives that they lack experience and have made some bad decisions in the recent past? They are undoubtedly a promising party who believe that they can/will bring about the change required but this majorly is not because of their ability it’s only because of the inability of other parties. On the other hand a decent majority of 70% think they are inexperienced and can’t be trusted but on a personal note I would not consider them to be totally incapable, they do have a fair chance in future if they scale up.

THROUGH WHO HAVE YOU GAINED KNOWLEDGE ABOUT POLITICS?

Long time ago it was only through parents that the children gained knowledge about politics but now time has changed parents no more teach politics only a meager  10% of people gain knowledge through parents and friends and the rest 90% gain knowledge through media. Just goes to show one other place where media is by far the most influential medium of communication.

WILL YOU VOTE DIFFERENTLY FROM YOUR PARENTS?

You will not be surprised to hear this because it’s a universally known fact. It was a big “YES”! Shows how opinionated the present generation is.

IS RELIGION A DECIDING FACTOR FOR VOTING?

I’m very much proud of belonging to this generation after seeing the answer for this question. NONE of them felt that their religion is important I believe this mind set will pave way for a better India. Hoping that this is prevails in the minds of our leaders as well.

 DO YOU READ POLITICAL COLUMN IN NEWS PAPER?

5% said they do read and the rest 95% said they don’t this clearly explains the root cause of the unawareness among youth on politics affairs. Remember “Aliya Bhatt’s” response on politics in the recent episode of Koffee with Karan?

SHOULD OUR LEADER BE EDUCATED?

My personal opinion is yes they should be educated but not all youths think this way only 80% of youths thinks that they should be educated and the other 20% says it is not necessary to be educated as long as they can uphold values at the best interest of the public like Mr.Kamarajar  

WHO IS THE MP FROM YOUR CONSTITUENCY?

The answers gave me a minor heart attack!None of them actually knew their MP’s not even a single person. This response guided me to frame my next and final question.

DO YOU KNOW WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES STANDING IN YOUR AREA?

The answers were not totally like I expected a few surprised me by saying they do know but still the majority said “NO” I wondered they could blindly vote without even knowing the candidates,hence spurred my next question “WHY DIDN’T YOU KNOW?” and the answer was they didn’t know how to obtain the information from in the first place.

I was able to comprehend to the, so for the benefit of such kind I figured out an easy way to know the contesting candidates of each area (source:GOOGLE). All you need to do is type “MYNETA (followed by your area pin code)” and send to 56070 or you could log on to www.myneta.info to know the information of  each candidate’s constituency, political party, educational background, assets, number of criminal cases on them and much more.

Go ahead take the first step to know your candidates, it is just a text away anyways. It is your right to know it. This small step you take might bring a big difference to the nation. We as the future citizens have a a huge responsibility resting on our shoulders, Don’t be indifferent to politics as much as you despise it, whether you like it or not YOU are an integral part of it.

Make your Vote count for a Better Future, Our Future.

                                JAI HIND 

-         Chennai ponnu